Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-16
THE DEATH OF WILLIE ROBINSON
Admitted by the Defense to Have Been
 Caused by a Dose of Arsenic.

Caused by a Dose of Arsenic.
 BOSTON, Dec. 15.-The fourth day of the trial of Sarah J. Robinson for poisoning her son Willie was opened by Lawyer Crane for the defense. He briefly outlined Mrs. Robin sons life and said that her acquaintance with Smith and Dr. Beers began about four years ago, when they were frequent visitors at Mrs. Robinson's house. Both wanted the woman, but each was particular not to be at the house when the other was there. Moth ing improper had ever occurred, but counsel did not approve his clients course iR accept ing promise made by Beers that he would give her money. Finally there came quar- rel with Dr. Beers, and since then there has been decided coidness. The defence would place of business that Monday before he was taken ill and gave him some medi- cine in phial Then came the fall of the
 box on Willie's neck, then the badly tast- ing tea, after which he was taken sick, and of which it could be proved the mother tasted also. The defense was willing to admit that Willie died from arsenical poisoning. but it
 was not done by his mother, who did not even know the color of arsenic. Charles H. Robinson, the only surviving of the pris- oner, said he first knew Dr. Beers in 1884,
 when he used to come to the house nearly every afternoon. He gave witness lot of
 powders for his sister Lizzie, which witness gave to his sister. Dr. Beers came to Willie's
 place Monday and gave him some white pills in bottle, saying that they would be good for his appetite. He wanted witness to take some, but he declined. He said Beers told
 him that he used to be wealthy mau and
 that his wife had been dead for number of years. He once took a note from his mother in 1886 to Dr. Beers house and was told the doctor was not in but his wife was. Witness said his mother had always been very kind to the children, especially so to Willie, who thought great deal of her. It was in 1884 that Dr. Beers used to leave the powders for Lizzie in his care. Once when Lizzie was not home he gave the powders to his mother who threw them into the stove. The Rev. L. B. Bates, an East Boston minis ter, the Rev. Gilbert 0. Osgood and several others testified to the affection existing among l the members of the Robinson family. Mrs. Robinson, the prisoner, then took the stand. | She first gave her life in detail up to the deaths of her children, then her acquaintance | with Beers and Smith and quarrel with the former when she ascertained he had wife. At this point the court took recess.
 After recess Mrs. Robinson continued her | testimony She said Dr. Beers had promised | her money not to reveal the fact that he was a divorced man after witness had discovered
 it.; he said he was going to get money for ! some patients; after this visit witness
 made to Natick with MT. Smith. Dr. Beers
 was very jealous and threatened to put witt ness out of the way. He said he had enough | in vest pocket to kill witness and dozen | others. Dr. Beers accused witness of being i improperly intimate with Smith; witness de-
 nied it and a quarrel followed, after
 which they parted Mrs. Robinson said that l Willie had told her he had lent to Dr. Beers l $400 or $500 and had the latter's notes In
 reply to counsel witness said she never ad- | oiI7io nr Irr7ep fn hn~
 never bought any, never saw any arsenic | to her knowledge and did not
 know it's appearance or properties. She tes-
 tified that she had always been opposed to Willie's joining the Colony of Pilgrim l Fathers.
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